Daily Snaps: Lights, camera & good action

(Sorry I've been on and off recently. I've been working on that whole sleeping thing.)

Gear: Canon 5D Mark III; Canon 70-200 2.8L
Settings: f/2.8, 1/500th of a second, ISO 6400, 200mm

The story: Friday night football, per usual. My long lense setup (Nikon D300S; Nikon 300 f/2.8 IS) struggles in low light, so I usually find myself bouncing around the sidelines during the second half with my 70-200. That usually means being short on mm's for most shots, but it does make me more mobile. With high school football, I'll usually make myself small, inconspicuous and walk with the chain gang for half a quarter or so. (PRO TIP: Get to know the chain gang and refs. Talk with 'em before game, between quarters. Be friendly. I haven't had anyone ask me to move off the sidelines, even when I've been shoulder to shoulder with referees). I've found that being 20 or 25 yards ahead of a good rushing team will equal good RB photos like the one above.

Why I like this shot: OK, I always shoot from a knee at the very least. Occasionally I'll go prostrate, because I'm not spending $69.95 on a right-angle viewfinder. Kneeling is something that stuck out from that Damian Strohmeyer lecture at B&H that I'll watch every once in a while. It's something to make your shots different from the guy shooting right next to you. Anyway, I got bonus points from kneeling in that the head of the Hillsdale running back here is at the same level as some of the lights in the background. BOKEH! And he's off the ground. And great expression.

Plus, how magical is the 5DIII? I'm pushing the limits at ISO 6400, 1/500th of a second, and it's still super sharp.

Daily Snap: Volleyballin'

Gear: Canon 5D Mark III; Canon 70-200 2.8L

Settings: f/2.8, 1/1000th of a second, ISO 4000, 200mm

The story: Volleyball. Have definitely found more success at the net shooting from the stands/elevated location. Still trying to figure it all out. But this one worked out.

Why I like it: The net running as a rule-of-thirds-esque line is something different -- usually shots like this set the net in the middle of the frame. I also love the face, and the arm as a leading line to the ball. Her face is the brightest thing in the frame, too.

Daily Snap: Football season

Gear: Canon 5D Mark III; Canon 70-200 2.8L

Settings: f/4, 1/800th of a second, ISO 2000, 200mm

The story: I didn't have any sports assignments today, so here's one from Week 2 of the Ohio high school football season. I reexamined it recently and cropped it a little tighter, and I like it considerably more now.

Why I like it: It's a touchdown reception, and you can tell from his face. Plus the defender falling off.

Daily Snap: Revvin' Up

Gear: Canon 5D Mark III; Canon 70-200 2.8L

Settings: f/3.2, 1/1000th of a second, ISO 800, 200mm

The story: One of the more enjoyable assignments at this week's Ashland (Ohio) County Fair was the motocross event on Thursday evening. Great light right around sunset, and a fun adventure for me. 

Why I like this photo: You learn to appreciate the subtleties of a good expression during a sport like motocross. Most guys have shaded visors, bulky helmets, chin-guards ... the whole shabang. So you rarely get to see a full face. This racer (who just happened to be a winner as well) managed to keep the dirt off his face/helmet during this race, and I caught him at an angle where you can also see some nose/mouth action. So his face isn't very large in the frame (I actually submitted a cropped version for print), but I think it still plays a prominent role. Great coloring in his outfit as well, dirty flying, a rider in the background for perspective, and nice sunset light on the grandstand. Couple distractions in the background, but I prefer a background with fans in the stands to nothing at all.

Daily Snap: Defense rules

Gear: Nikon D300S; Nikon 300mm f/2.8
Settings: f/2.8, 1/800th of a second, ISO 800, 300mm

The story: Big local football game, and snapped this photo in the first quarter. LOVED IT. Turns out, Loudonville (gray) pulled off a shutout (its 2nd straight). Great photojournalistic photo.

Why I like it: Great compression. I was nice and low to the ground, so no random grass or lines distracting from our subject. I'm still early in my PJ career, but I think this could be one of my signature looks. ALSO. Love the Falcon fans in the back. Face of the Hillsdale (white) QB. Loudonville defender to the right gives it some balance, atmosphere.

Bonus photo with 5DIII, 70-200:

Daily Snap: Heads up!

Gear: Canon 5D Mark III; Canon 70-200 2.8L
Settings: f/2.8, 1/800th of a second, ISO 5000, 200mm

The story: Final stages of a high school girls soccer game, and a corner from my side of the net. Ball comes in, and I happen upon the right player at the right time. Definitely some luck involved. Only better thing would have been if this was the game-tying goal (it bounced harmlessly into the keeper's arms).

Why I like it: Dynamic. And great color, right? And shadows. This was long after sunset, so it was enitrely stadium lights. There's a great line between the player's eyes and the ball, and that leads you through the frame. And more simply, it's just good, athletic action, with the player standing out in front of the night-sky background.

Bonus pic:

Daily Snap: On the Farm

(Yeah, yeah. Few days off to cool my jets.)

Gear: Nikon D300S; Nikon 17-35 f/2.8

Settings: f/4, 1/400th of a second, ISO 400, 17mm

The story: Called to a local farm to hang out with a mom who's basically managing a small "hobby farm" on her own (with the help of her two girls). Did a portrait, then hung out for a bit and snapped some candids.

Why I like this one: It reminds me of one of my favorite photographers ... Cathy Avalone. She was the chief photographer when I worked as a sports editor in Connecticut. She always focuses on faces and emotion, and loves a dutched camera with some leading lines. There's a really cool narrative here with the lively younger sister, the older sister giving her a look, and the whole setting. And it was all completely unstaged ... I was just talking with the mother while the girls were bouncing around. I saw this and fired.